Alexander Zverev asked Carlos Alcaraz why he came to site so early (Image: X @InteBNLdItalia)
They say the early bird catches the worm, and Carlos Alcaraz will be hoping that statement rings true when he takes to the court in Rome on Sunday evening. The world No. 3 is playing the final match of the night session on Campo Centrale and is not expected to come out before 8.30pm local time.
But he turned up at the Foro Italico nine hours before his third-round match and was immediately questioned by Alexander Zverev, who wanted to know why Alcaraz had arrived so early. And the Spaniard had a hilarious explanation, showing where his priorities lay.
Alcaraz returned to the Italian Open on Friday after skipping it last year due to an arm injury. It was a successful start for the third seed, who needed an hour and 22 minutes to breeze past qualifier Dusan Lajovic 6-3 6-3.
The Spaniard will now face another Serbian player, Laslo Djere, as he bids to make it beyond the third round in Rome for the first time in his career. And he was an eager beaver ahead of the match, coming to the site with nine hours to go.
